[Abel]

Hi Mr. Korman, I’ve been working on a few original story ideas — some inspired by real-life experiences and others by books and movies I grew up with. Your books On the Run and Kidnapped series were a inspiration back then, and also Backrooms videos. But lately I’ve been feeling stuck, like I’ve poured so much into these projects but haven’t gotten anywhere. I'm planning on doing some animations but want to implement some writing into it and don't know how.

I wanted to ask:
✳️ What helped you find your direction when you first started writing?
✳️ Did you ever feel like your work wasn’t going anywhere, and how did you push through that?
✳️ What advice would you give someone who has big ideas but struggles to get them off the ground?

Thank you so much for your time.

Hi,Abel,

Thanks for posting. I'll tryto answer all your questions.

1. I don't recall having to find my direction when I first started to write. I was 12, and I had something I wanted to say, a story I thought was worth telling. It was pretty simple stuff. I don't recall feeling any of the stress that you describe.

2. Absolutely! I felt I was unappreciated, that Iwas writing profound stuff,and no one appreciated it. I thought I was writing for adults. I was really young, and felt I wasn't getting the kind of recognition and acclaim I merited! How's that for ego?

3. Settle on one thing you want to create, and create it. It's not rocket science. If you have a story to tell, a concerto to write, a work of art to animate, then have at it. Your anxiety is mostly self-generated. Forget AI. Forget everything but the one thing you choose to do, and then just do it, keeping strict control of your work. If you get distracted, you won't do any of it -- not properly, anyway. Give yourself a chance and take your time. If it's going to come, it will. But you have to let it.

Relax. And enjoy the sheer creation of whatever you choose to try.

                                         Good luck!                                                             ----Gordon Korman----

[Abel]

Thanks for that info. And I don't know if you ever had this but whenever I watch a movie and or read books including yours as a kid growing up there's something in my mind that always tells me I could have done something different here and there or changed the direction(no disrespect). And I come up with all these scenarios in my head with alternate realities. I felt like that is something I have inside that is motivating me to do my own work and projects. But what do you think of that?

Hi again, Abel,

Yes, always! No movie or TV show or book exists that wouldn't have been better if only I could have had a crack at it!

You'll probably outgrow it. I did. It's part of being a creative person. It can be distracting, but it's also fun!      --GK--